Dropsy In My Main Tank!

[smmetz]

My main is a 55 with:
(links to profiles for less common fish)

6 platy
3 whiteskirt tetra
6 rainbow madagascar http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=79017
3 spotted raphael catfish http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=41717
1 common plec (6")
1 bamboo shrimp http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=123835

pool filter sand substrate
Aquaclear 110 filter (overfiltration FTW!)
No new fish in many months
No medications ever

Nitrates are kept between 10 and 20. PH around 7.3 Amonia and nitrites should be 0, I'll check to be sure.

Yesterday I noticed a platy all swollen, at the bottom on the tank. Scales were sticking out. He was moved to my isolation tank, which also contains a neon tetra with suspected NTD. The 10 gallon isolation tank is not treated with anything. There was another platy that looked like the scales were suspicious, and might be swollen. I installed my 24 watt UV sterilizer with internal pump, into my 55 gallon tank. I don't know if it will help, but I don't want my other fish getting sick!

This morning, the platy in the 10 gallon was dead. I removed it. The suspicious platy in the other tank was still a bit bloated. I noticed it is a male, so it could not be pregnant. The scales still look funny. He was at the top, seemed to be breathing hard. I am now putting him in my 10 gallon isolation tank.

Anyway, from what I have read, it looks like Dropsy. Is there anything else I can do to help the remaining fish in my 55? I have over $100 in stock in that tank, and I really like the fish!

Any suggestions for treating the sick one in the isolation tank? Remember, there is also a neon in there with suspected NTD. It still has a discoloured red stripe, but at least it is swimming normally again. It was going vertical for a little while.

 

[black angel]

I doubt the uv can help with bacterial diseases.
How much water are you changing each week?
Maybe you need to up your water changes as bacteria can build up quite quickly and alas theres no testing for it.
Whats your filtration like?

 

[smmetz]

I change about 15% each week.

I can certainly increase that to twice per week, or more if it will help.

My filtration is an AquaClear 110 HOB filter. Media in use are a foam block that came with it, the ceramic bio stuff that came with it. I dont have carbon in it.

 

[black angel]

What do you use to do your water changes? You need to get as far down and as close to the sand as you can to get rid of anything decaying, such as plants and poo.
How long has the tank been runnning with the sand and do you regularly put your finger through it to keep it stirred?
I think for now to up your water changes to twice a week at 40% each time.
You can get treatments for bacterial conditions but they tend to treat the water rather than the fish, and i find as long as the fish keep eating then keep the water changes up and it should balance itself out.
If you can get any medicated food then fighting it from the inside is the best way to go.

 

[smmetz]

Thanks, will do.

I will also rinse my filter sponge in the next water change. It has been a long time since I did that. I remembered that last week I disturbed the media while the filter was running, and lots of debris went into the tank. Of course, the greedy platys were probably trying to eat it. Perhaps that is the cause of the problem.

I stir the sand about every couple weeks.

I recently got a bigger gravel vac so it could get some of the bigger poo up. The pleco poo was getting too heavy for the old one to suck up.

 

[black angel]

I now use a net to stir up the bottom and catch all the rubbish.
The filter might well be a source of the bad bacteria so give it a good squeeze out in old tank water and you might have to do it two or three times to get it clean.

 

[smmetz]

Second platy died in hospital tank today.

Fish in main tank look OK so far.

I have the UV filter in there to try to contain the spread of anything

I did a 35% water change yesterday, along with a thorough rinse of the filter media.

Question - should I add a small dose of aquarium salt to help prevent any further outbreak? I have 3 spotted raphael and 1 pleco who might not like the salt. Also, not sure about my Bamboo shrimp. I am unsure if I would be doing more harm than good in adding any salt.

 

[WILDER]

Some scaless fish can handle abit of salt but not with the strimp, unless you can move him somewhere else.
Epson salt baths are best with bloated fish.